From Victorian penny dreadfuls to 21st century fanfiction and everything between and beyond, St John Starling chats with Sebastian Nothwell about serial fiction, Gothic romance, and bold strategies for telling stories.

St John Starling (he/him) is the author of the queer Gothic romances What Manner of Man and The Sacred Sins of Father Black. You can connect with him on tumblr @stjohnstarling and join his newsletter at stjohnstarling.substack.com

Sebastian Nothwell (he/him) is the author of Oak King Holly King, Mr Warren's Profession, Fiorenzo, and other queer romance novels. You can connect with him at sebastiannothwell.com

Ring in the new year with this special first chapter sneak peek of the A Rival Most Vial audiobook! (Written by RK Ashwick, narrated by Brendan Robert Kane.) Stay tuned next year for more author interviews and panel discussions, and thank you so much for listening.

Any adventurer worth their sword knows about Ambrose Beake. The proud, quiet half-elf sells the best, and only, potions in the city—until a handsome new shopkeeper named Eli opens another potion shop across the street, throwing Ambrose’s peace and ledgers far off balance.

Within weeks, they’re locked in a war of price tags and products—Ambrose’s expertise against Eli’s effortless charm. Toil leads to trouble, the safety gloves come off, and right as their rivalry reaches a boiling point…

The mayor commissions them to brew a potion together.

The task is as complex as it is lucrative, pushing both men to the limits of their abilities and patience. Yet as the fires burn and cauldrons bubble…they find a different sort of chemistry brewing.

A Rival Most Vial is a queer cozy romantasy perfect for anyone who’s ever fallen head-over-heels for an NPC - available now wherever fine books are found!

RK Ashwick (she/her) is the author of the cozy fantasy A Rival Most Vial and its sequel A Captured Cauldron, as well as the Lutesong trilogy beginning with The Stray Spirit. You can connect with her at her website: rkashwick.com

“Even back then, they wanted that twink obliterated.” Noah Hawthorne (he/they) interviews Trip Galey (he/him) about paying queer artists to make queer art, fae morality, identification with the alien, drawing inspiration from boredom, resonating with queer experiences outside of your own, writing the weirdest story of your heart, and the wildly entertaining I Want That Twink Obliterated anthology.

Trip Galey (he/him) is the author of the queer fantasy novel A Market of Dreams and Destiny and the cozy cosmic novella Apple Pies and Eldritch Skies as well as the co-founder of the small press Bona Books Ltd and co-creator of the I Want That Twink Obliterated anthology of queer spec fic. You can connect with him at linktr.ee/tripgaley and keep up with all the cool things Bona Books Ltd is up to at bona-books.com

Noah Hawthorne (he/they), also writing as Aelina Isaacs, is the author of the queer cozy fantasy series Adventures in Levena, beginning with Phantom and Rook. You can connect with him at their website: neshamapublishing.com

Noah Hawthorne (he/they) interviews Kara Jorgensen (they/them) about exploring queer history and themes of neurodivergence, disability, and grief through undead indie romance.

Kara Jorgensen (they/them) is the author of queer historical fantasy romances including the Reanimator Mysteries (beginning with The Reanimator’s Heart), the Ingenious Mechanical Devices series (beginning with The Earl of Brass), and the Paranormal Society series (beginning with Kinship and Kindness). You can connect with them at karajorgensen.com

Noah Hawthorne (he/they), also writing as Aelina Isaacs, is the author of the queer cozy fantasy series Adventures in Levena, beginning with Phantom and Rook. You can connect with him at their website: neshamapublishing.com

Writing from personal experience, Carolina Cruz (they/them) interviews Valerie Gomez (she/her) about mental health in the Latine community and portrayals in queer romance.

Valerie Gomez (she/her) is the author of the contemporary queer Latine romance Cover Story and its sequel novella Coming Home, as well as the cozy queer romance novella A Handyman for the Holidays. You can connect with her on instagram @valeriegomez_writes

Carolina Cruz (they/them) is the author of the vampire horror romance Blood in the Water and the queer fantasy series The Creed of Gethin (beginning with The Unwanted Prophet). You can connect with them on instagram @ninawolverina

What is beta reading? How do you become a beta reader? And how do you get the most out of the feedback you receive from beta readers? Three indie authors come together for a rousing discussion, including some wild stories.

RK Ashwick (she/her) is the cozy fantasy author of the Lutesong series (beginning with The Stray Spirit) and the Side Quest Row series (beginning with A Rival Most Vial). You can connect with her at her website: rkashwick.com

Tess Carletta (she/her) is the author of Kit & Basie, a queer cozy romance, and its sequel, Patchwork. You can connect with her at her website: tesscarletta.com

Noah Hawthorne (he/they) is the author of the queer fantasy series Adventures in Levena, beginning with Phantom and Rook. You can connect with him at their website: neshamapublishing.com

What is it about rivals-to-lovers that makes readers ravenous for it? Five indie authors form a roundtable to discuss a favorite trope.

RK Ashwick (she/her) is the author of the cozy fantasy A Rival Most Vial and its sequel A Captured Cauldron, as well as the Lutesong trilogy beginning with The Stray Spirit. You can connect with her at her website: rkashwick.com

S.O. Callahan (she/her) is the author of the Fella Enchanted cozy fantasy duology and co-author of the Fae and Human Relations series beginning with Breeze Spells and Bridegrooms. You can connect with her on instagram @s.o.callahan

Luna Daye (she/her) is the author of the epic fantasy Thoraius Saga beginning with Swords and Seers and the romantasy series Fated Fae beginning with Fae’s Mate. You can connect with her at her website: lunadaye.com

Noah Hawthorne (he/they), also writing as Aelina Isaacs, is the author of the cozy fantasy series Adventures in Levena beginning with Phantom and Rook. You can connect with him at their website: neshamapublishing.com

Sarah Wallace (they/them) is the author of the cozy fantasy series Meddle and Mend beginning with Letters to Half Moon Street and co-author of the Fae and Human Relations series beginning with Breeze Spells and Bridegrooms. You can connect with them on instagram @sarah.wallace.writer

Move over holiday cheer, it’s time for holiday queer! Tess Carletta (she/her) interviews Jay Leigh (she/her) about the upcoming multi-author novella collection, Home for the Holidays, including found family, writing from a place of authenticity, mental illness representation in romance novels, and the necessity of a touch of darkness to make the light shine all the brighter.

Jay Leigh (she/her) is the author of Whisper into the Night, Checking Out, and sundry other mm romances featuring action, suspense, and spice. You can connect with her on instagram @jayelle_m and enter the Home for the Holidays giveaway at her website: authorjayleigh.com

Tess Carletta (she/her) is the author of Kit & Basie, a queer cozy romance, and its sequel, Patchwork. You can connect with her at her website: tesscarletta.com